Research explores how TV show Drive to Survive has transformed Formula One

The article, titled Drive to Survive and symbolic capital in Formula One, is co-authored by Dr Leon Davis from the University of Chester with Dr Desiree (Daisy) Campbell of Teesside University and has been published by Sage’s International Review for the Sociology of Sport journal.

As Formula One continues its global boom, the research explores how Drive to Survive has transformed the sport’s media culture and reshaped how fame, influence and recognition operate within the elite racing series.

Drawing on sociological theory, the study highlights how the Netflix series has fundamentally changed the ways drivers and teams build their profiles both on and off the track. Through behind-the-scenes access, emotional storytelling and personality-driven narratives, the programme has created new forms of sporting celebrity - allowing figures beyond championship-winning teams to develop global fanbases and cultural visibility.

The paper suggests that success in Formula One is no longer determined solely by race results. Instead, visibility, storytelling, and individuality are increasingly central to how drivers connect with audiences and build influence in the modern sport.

The paper also explores how these shifts intersect with wider issues, including gender, race, inequality and commercial power within Formula One. In doing so, it provides timely insight into the growing relationship between sport, streaming platforms and popular culture.

The study contributes to a growing body of work examining how digital media is redefining elite sport, offering valuable insight for academics, students, and industry professionals alike.

Dr Leon Davis said: “Drive to Survive has changed how recognition works in Formula One. Success is no longer only about race results - visibility, personality and storytelling now shape who connects with audiences and becomes influential within the sport.

“What makes this especially exciting is that the paper connects elite sport with popular culture in a way students instantly recognise. It shows how streaming media and entertainment platforms are actively reshaping modern sport and sporting identity.”

Dr Desiree (Daisy) Campbell of Teesside University stated: “Drive to Survive has helped make Formula One more accessible and emotionally engaging for wider audiences, allowing fans to connect with the personalities and stories behind the sport.

“Our paper explores the nexus between Netflix and Formula One and how the sport appears to be a more personality-driven and emotionally visible sport, while also highlighting how these changes still operate within wider inequalities around gender, race and class.”